Monday, February 24, 2014

Monday’s M/M Quick Bites & Giveaway

As M/M Reviewers, between us we have read thousands of m/m romance novels over the years and we would like to share our favourites with you, those reads that have been 4+ stars for us. So every Monday we will be bringing you our Quick Bites, short reviews of our recommended reads.

Another four great reads for you again this week, plus… don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win a Kindle eBook of your choice from this weeks Quick Bites.

Shades of Gray by Brooke McKinley

Miller Sutton, a by-the-book FBI agent, is starting to see some troubling shades of gray in his black-and-white world. He comes face-to-face with his doubts in the person of Danny Butler, a mid-level drug runner Miller hopes to use to catch a much larger fish: Roberto Hinestroza, a drug lord Miller has pursued for years. Danny has no interest in being a witness against his boss, both out of a sense of twisted loyalty and because he knows double-crossing Hinestroza is a sure death sentence. But he reluctantly agrees to cooperate, and as he suspects, it doesn't take long for Hinestroza to figure out the betrayal. Miller is surprised to discover Danny's not the career-criminal lowlife he expected; at the same time, Danny finds himself helplessly attracted to Miller's innate goodness. They barely begin to explore the sparking attraction between them when Hinestroza's hitman tracks them down, and then they're on the run, both for their lives and for any kind of love.

Tina’s Quick Bite

FBI agent Miller Sutton comes face to face with his doubts in his black and white world when he starts to interrogate Danny Butler, a drug runner. Miller hopes to catch a much larger fish: Roberto Hinestroza, a drug lord. Miller is surprised to discover Danny is not the career-criminal he expected. At the same time Danny finds himself helplessly attracted to Miller. They barely begin to explore the attraction between them when hitman Madrigal *shudders* tracks them down, and then they are on the run, both for their lives and their love…

Despite the gripping plot it's the character development what makes this story so special. They are believable, flawed characters with human strengths and weaknesses, who have to navigate in a world that isn’t only black or white. Two men, hardened by life and the circumstances they are dealing with, find comfort and understanding, they are sweet and so patient to each other and when they finally are together it’s full of love and just beautifully erotic.

Shades of Gray is an excellent story filled with action, tension, drama, good, evil and all the various shades of gray in between. A truly awesome book!

Tigers and Devils by Sean Kennedy

Football, friends, and film are the most important parts of Simon Murray's life, likely in that order. Despite being lonely, Simon is cautious about looking for more, and his best friends despair of him ever finding that special someone to share his life. Against his will, they drag him to a party, where Simon barges into a football conversation and ends up defending the honour of star forward Declan Tyler—unaware that the athlete is present and listening.Like his entire family, Simon revels in living in Melbourne, Victoria, the home of Australian Rules football and mecca for serious fans. There, players are deemed gods and treated as such—until they do something to cause them to fall out of public favour. Declan is suffering a horrendous year of injuries, and the public is taking him to task for it, so Simon's support is a bright spot in his struggles. In that first awkward meeting, neither man has any idea they will change each other's lives forever.As Simon and Declan fumble toward building a relationship together, there is yet another obstacle in their way: keeping Declan's homosexuality a secret amidst the intrusion of well-meaning friends and an increasingly suspicious media. They realise that nothing remains hidden forever… and they know the situation will only become more complicated when Declan's private life is revealed. Declan will be forced to make some tough choices that may result in losing either the career he loves or the man he wants. And Simon has never been known to make things easy—for himself or for others.

Mark’s Quick Bite

I adored the two main characters Simon and Declan. Although total opposites they compliment each other in so many ways too. Simon who is cynical, self-depreciating and sometimes given to the odd temper tantrum has found his ideal partner in Declan, cool, collected, calm and thinks things through if not maybe a little calculating at times. They really are quite opposite but belong together like Yin and Yang.

What I enjoyed about this story was the shift in focus. At the beginning Simon is an out film festival director and Declan through his status is so far in the closet due to possible repercussions from the media couldn't be out if he wanted to. Then through various circumstances Declan and Simon are publicly outed and the sh** hits the fan. For Declan it is as though you can feel a whole weight has been lifted off his shoulders despite the possible career consequences. Whereas, due to all the media attention Simon is pushed back into the closet somewhat in fear of any possible public backlash and marginalised through the star status of his partner. However, despite all the trials and tribulations the story shows where there's a will there's s way.

Chase in the Shadow (Johnnies #1) by Amy Lane

Chase Summers: Golden boy. Beautiful girlfriend, good friends, and a promising future.Nobody knows the real Chase.Chase Summers has a razor blade to his wrist and the smell of his lover’s goodbye clinging to his skin. He has a door in his heart so frightening he’d rather die than open it, and the lies he’s used to block it shut are thinning with every forbidden touch. Chase has spent his entire life unraveling, and his decision to set his sexuality free in secret has only torn his mind apart faster.Chase has one chance for true love and salvation. He may have met Tommy Halloran in the world of gay-for-pay—where the number of lovers doesn’t matter as long as the come-shot’s good—but if he wants the healing that Tommy’s love has to offer, he’ll need the courage to leave the shadows for the sunlight. That may be too much to ask from a man who’s spent his entire life hiding his true self. Chase knows all too well that the only things thriving in a heart’s darkness are the bitter personal demons that love to watch us bleed.

Monique’s Quick Bite

This is a love story, beautiful and tragic in it's tale which will captivate you and hold your heart to ransom right to the very end… LOVED IT!!!

At times during this book, I actually found it hard to read and not in a bad way, but because there is such profound raw emotion and heartbreak hiding behind the persona that is Chase Summers. He is 20 years old and in my eyes he was still a boy...a boy that lost his way in life 14 years earlier when the tragic death of his mother leaves him with the bigoted, abusive drunk that was his father. This event and the subsequent years with his so called "father" shaped his life and his psych and neither were pretty! Chase compartmentalized his life, put it in boxes, keeping them separate from each other and any leak of emotion between these compartments would be the undoing of him and his sanity.....and this is exactly where Amy Lane takes us.

Amy Lane did a great job of letting us get to know not only our two MC's Chase and Tommy, but also the whole host of other character's, all of which had a face, voice and personality of their own. It took me a little while to warm to Chase, as there is a lot to take in initially and I did get a little frustrated with the dipping in and out of the here and now....I just wanted certain parts to flow more easily. Having said that at the half way point I was totally engrossed and was unable to put it down until it was finished.

Heart of Stone by Ari McKay

Stone Harrison never knew he had an aunt; he certainly never expected her to bequeath him one of the largest spreads in central Nevada. But something about Copper Lake Ranch and its foreman, Luke Reynolds, speaks to him, offering a chance for the home he's never really had.Luke wants Stone to succeed as a rancher and put the legacy of his shiftless father behind him, but he'd also like Stone to share his bed. Unfortunately, Stone is convinced that the world is a harsh place that will never accept two men sharing their lives. Much to Luke's dismay, he refuses to risk Luke's life despite the intense attraction they share.The tension between them escalates when a series of calamities strikes Copper Lake. An unexpected and unwelcome visit from Stone's dandified cousin, James, only makes things worse. Stone's ability to run the ranch comes into question, but the threat of losing it means less to Stone than the threat to Luke's life. Stone will do anything it takes to protect the man he loves-even if it makes him a murderer.

Macky’s Quick Bite

I absolutely loved this historical cowboy romance. A lovely easy read that evoked everything I loved about the old westerns I used to watch on a Saturday afternoon when I was a youngster. Only in this case the whole trope was turned upside down, because of course this Old West love story is between two gorgeous cowboys and set in a time when being gay wasn't something you shouted about for fear of some nasty repercussions. But its all there. Stone Harrison, the strong silent half breed drifter who inherits a ranch out of the blue, Luke Reynolds, the warm, friendly, teasing ranch foreman who gradually gets under his skin and breaks down his barriers, the mysterious mishaps befalling the ranch and the fight with the proverbial slimy bad guy who, with his henchmen, is trying to drive them off their land and the likeable small town supporting characters and ranch hands always present in a good western to help the MC's win the day. Sexy and sensual but never gratuitous, with some very nice chemistry and sexual tension between Stone and Luke, this was a solid love story that even though it wasn't particularly unpredictable didn't bother me one bit because it still felt like the whole package and I remember I sat and read it all in one sitting. Couldn't put it down! If you love your cowboys then this one will definitely satisfy, I felt the need to shout "Yeehaw" a few times and let's put it this way....it left me wanting to save a horse and ride a cowboy!

71 comments:

I haven't read any of these books, though Tigers and Devils and Shades of Gray have been in my ebook for a while. After reading your reviews I intend to start reading them asap. As for which one would I choose, Heart of Stone would do. A historical cowboy romance sounds really good.

I haven't read any of these. I've only heard of one of them, to be honest, so I'm glad for the recommends! I think I'd want to read Tigers and Devils since I'm a sucker for a sports book. LOVE sports movies and books and shows, but you know what? I actually hate sports. It's weird. I know.

Tigers and Devils is one of my all-time favorite books. I've also read Chase in Shadow. I'm torn between Shades of Gray because FBI agent, yes, thank you but I also love historicals although not so much cowboys, so also Heart of Stone would be interesting. I guess I'll decide if I win!

I loved Tigers & Devil's by Sean Kennedy (plus Tigerland, and shorts The First Supper, & Just Like Florence Nightingale). Wonderful writing. Recently bought Shades of Gray by Brooke McKinley and that will be my next read. I would like a chance to win Heart of Stone by Ari McKay, because I love those cowboys!